Photo | MomsWithStyle
by Laura Milligan
If you have kids, you already know that style sometimes has to take a backseat to serious fashion — usually involving baby spit-up or juice box malfunctions — but it doesn’t have to disappear altogether. As a mom in today’s world, you should feel confident that you can have it all, including a great look that’s independent — but still respectful — of your children’s lives.
When you’re trying to figure out what to wear to a school function or piano rehearsal or how to dress for a parent-teacher conference or fundraising event for your child’s school, you’ll want to lean toward the classier version of your everyday – or even “night on the town”- look. It’s best to err on the side of being too demure rather than too sexy, but there’s absolutely no reason why you should attempt to bury your own style personality in clothes that are frumpy or just not you.
Mother of Style blogger and fashion advisor Candy Martin (you can find her on SeattlePI.com and on her own site) notes that “the best clues about what will be appropriate to wear to a school function are found in the staff and other parents. Using them as a baseline you can build your own outfit from there and add the extra touches that make your style your own.”
And when you’re trying to put together an outfit that makes you feel dressed up and chic, Martin suggests, “it’s always a good idea to wear something special that you can be complimented on because it might give someone an opportunity to break the ice with you. Good options include a colorful scarf, a pair of dangly earrings, or your favorite shoes – because really, who doesn’t love shoes?”
To avoid looking like the mom who tried to hard and wants to steal attention away from the kids, Martin “tries to keep things simple by wearing a cute top and a long cardigan with nice jeans, some heels or embellished flats and light jewelry.” Just check out the cute outfit she put together, above!
And as for the major fashion don’ts: “stay away from pieces that are too trendy or fussy because I think they draw the wrong kind of attention in a school setting,” Martin cautions. “You want to be known for your child and your volunteer efforts to help the school community, not for wearing the big furry vest on Curriculum Night.”
Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!
